MORRO BAY, Calif. -- After 17 years, a father is still waiting for justice.
Marcus Allen's daughter, Gail, went missing from Morro Bay back in 1995. Her cold case was reopened June of this year.
Detectives matched DNA of burned, naked body found in the unincorporated area of Covina to that of Morro Bay missing woman, Gail Allen.
For the first time, Allen's father is speaking out to Central Coast News about the developments in the cold case.
"She was a free spirit and left the world too young," says Allen.
And after 17 years, he won't give up. A Vietnam vet, Allen raised his daughter tough. She was a "fun-loving" 20-year-old girl who showed promise very young but it wasn't uncommon for her to come and go as she pleased.
"I knew she was gone after about a year because she used to call my mom at least once a week no matter where in the world she was," says Allen.
And after years of searching, in June of this year Allen got the call no parent ever wants.
The burned body found back in 1995 was his daughter.
A daughter he wishes he could see, one more time.
"Oh, I don't know, just hug her and kiss her," says Allen.
Morro Bay Police posted flyers all across North County to try and find people who may have known or seen Allen, especially in the Morro Bay and Santa Maria areas.
Police have to start from scratch.
They're looking to re-interview her ex-boyfriend Marquis Detar, who is also the father of her child, and verify facts he stated in 1998.
At this moment, they have no suspect or suspects in her death.
